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Not on the Menu
Romance with Zik was not on the menu.
On the menu were carefully plated dishes.
Not butterflies.
Not longing gazes.
Not replaying moments like a carousel.
And definitely not romance with my friend’s brother.
Or a younger guy.
So why did my stomach feel weird?
It had to be a stomach bug… right?
On the menu were carefully plated dishes.
Not butterflies.
Not longing gazes.
Not replaying moments like a carousel.
And definitely not romance with my friend’s brother.
Or a younger guy.
So why did my stomach feel weird?
It had to be a stomach bug… right?
- GenresAudiobook
Audible Audio
Published January 23, 2026
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 48 reviews
February 4, 2026
Thank you NetGalley and Victory editing for the audio ARC
🎧 AUDIO BOOK REVIEW
I gave Not on the Menu by Eddy Twice 3 stars. As an audiobook, it definitely had one of my favorite elements — dual narration. I always love getting both perspectives, and the narrators really helped bring the characters and their personalities to life.
The story itself was cute and easy to listen to, with some sweet and fun moments that kept it enjoyable. That said, it didn’t really stand out in a big way for me. It was a nice, light listen, but not one that will stick with me long-term. Still, if you’re in the mood for something low-stress with solid narration, it’s a pleasant pick.
🎧 AUDIO BOOK REVIEW
I gave Not on the Menu by Eddy Twice 3 stars. As an audiobook, it definitely had one of my favorite elements — dual narration. I always love getting both perspectives, and the narrators really helped bring the characters and their personalities to life.
The story itself was cute and easy to listen to, with some sweet and fun moments that kept it enjoyable. That said, it didn’t really stand out in a big way for me. It was a nice, light listen, but not one that will stick with me long-term. Still, if you’re in the mood for something low-stress with solid narration, it’s a pleasant pick.
February 19, 2026
This book is not for me. I did not connect with the story nor the characters.
The writing felt clunky and the pacing was off (drawn out scenes without anything happening and then speeding up again when during important moments).
On top of that, the audio production sounded metallic and I did not like the male narrator’s voice (both in sound and in flatness).
As a different reviewer pointed out, the sparkle in the bottom right corner of the cover seemingly points to AI, especially in combination with an apparently very vague answer from the author.
Not a great look.
DNF @ 18%.
1.5 stars rounded down.
Read as an audiobook.
I received an ARC of this book (thanks!) and these are my own opinions.
The writing felt clunky and the pacing was off (drawn out scenes without anything happening and then speeding up again when during important moments).
On top of that, the audio production sounded metallic and I did not like the male narrator’s voice (both in sound and in flatness).
As a different reviewer pointed out, the sparkle in the bottom right corner of the cover seemingly points to AI, especially in combination with an apparently very vague answer from the author.
Not a great look.
DNF @ 18%.
1.5 stars rounded down.
Read as an audiobook.
I received an ARC of this book (thanks!) and these are my own opinions.
February 9, 2026
⭐1.5
The was a big problem with pacing and repetition.
Things that didn't warrant in depth description got it and then things that could have used a tad more were breezed past.
I felt no real chemistry between the characters throughout.
If I heard about how he felt safe and like home one more time I was gonna lose it.
I can't say more about this story because a lot of it was affected by listening to the audiobook.
Listening to this as an audiobook was a big mistake, I think somethings that I would have let the story itself get away with was ruined by the audio book.
There was a pretty big problem cut in pacing narration wise, not all on the narrators, production likely played a part in this too.
With the narrator for Megan I could hear mouth sounds which really felt .. gahh, ya know? Also, the way it was read felt like she was making fun of the characters at all times, and it all felt very one note.
Thank you to Netgalley and Victory Editing for giving me a Free Listen copy of the audiobook.
The was a big problem with pacing and repetition.
Things that didn't warrant in depth description got it and then things that could have used a tad more were breezed past.
I felt no real chemistry between the characters throughout.
If I heard about how he felt safe and like home one more time I was gonna lose it.
I can't say more about this story because a lot of it was affected by listening to the audiobook.
Listening to this as an audiobook was a big mistake, I think somethings that I would have let the story itself get away with was ruined by the audio book.
There was a pretty big problem cut in pacing narration wise, not all on the narrators, production likely played a part in this too.
With the narrator for Megan I could hear mouth sounds which really felt .. gahh, ya know? Also, the way it was read felt like she was making fun of the characters at all times, and it all felt very one note.
Thank you to Netgalley and Victory Editing for giving me a Free Listen copy of the audiobook.
February 11, 2026
Not On The Menu is a fun romance that follows Megan, an aspiring photographer buried under the weight of expectations from her high-achieving family and the grief of losing her best friend Ava, and Zik a successful chef and Ava's little brother, who has been in love with Megan for as long as he can remember. A chef MMC is a chef is almost ALWAYS a win for me, and Zik did not disappoint!! The plot handled difficult themes well, and the pacing made it easy to get lost in the story. I love listening to Megan and Zik support eachother in their careers and with their grief, and to watch the relationship blossom authentically and (mostly) without drama... Both narrators have lively engaging voices, and capture the playfulness of Zik and Megan's relationship. The little recipe section at the end was a great touch, and I'm tempted to get a physical copy just so I can follow along with some of the delicious-sounding recipes from the book! Thank you to Victory Editing and Netgalley for this Advanced Listener Copy in exchange for an honest review.
February 13, 2026
This book was, erm, not for me I don't think. Thank you to NetGalley and the Publisher for the opportunity to listen to this audiobook in exchange for my honest opinion. All opinions are my own and bare no reflection on how others may feel about this book.
It was a cute, short read in many respects. I liked the fact that it was friends to lovers, he's a chef, and she's a photographer and after loosing his sister (her best friend) she's come to help him take pictures of his food for his up coming cook book.
But my goodness they went from... okay we're dating... to 'Babe' alot... to 'I love you' and my brain struggled a little to understand how we got there so fast. I know it was sort of like 'love was here all along' but it did seem like they were all of a sudden really open with each other.
There were some problems with the recording of the narration where it skipped in places, and repeated words in others. And I think I've heard so many great narrators now that the male narrator was giving me nothing - when describing the sexy scenes it's like he was just logging in for a day at the office! Very little emotion in his voice... when he said 'I groaned'... I wanna hear that groan!
The third act break-up was odd. She didn't want to be with him anymore because he was trying to pay her investment back to her? Like, why not just talk it out rather than walking away and being apart from each other for a month?
And dying her hair red after it all, classic post break-up move!
I'm glad that her Mam and Dad got back together, even though there was absolutely no back story to how and why they managed to sort things out - and to be honest her Mam seemed like a bit of a nightmare! And I'm really glad that her Dad got better.
But I think, for me, there was a lack of chemistry between the main characters, the story moved along very quickly without any sort of tension or yearning from either of the main characters. A quick and easy listen to keep your reading list moving for sure.
It was a cute, short read in many respects. I liked the fact that it was friends to lovers, he's a chef, and she's a photographer and after loosing his sister (her best friend) she's come to help him take pictures of his food for his up coming cook book.
But my goodness they went from... okay we're dating... to 'Babe' alot... to 'I love you' and my brain struggled a little to understand how we got there so fast. I know it was sort of like 'love was here all along' but it did seem like they were all of a sudden really open with each other.
There were some problems with the recording of the narration where it skipped in places, and repeated words in others. And I think I've heard so many great narrators now that the male narrator was giving me nothing - when describing the sexy scenes it's like he was just logging in for a day at the office! Very little emotion in his voice... when he said 'I groaned'... I wanna hear that groan!
The third act break-up was odd. She didn't want to be with him anymore because he was trying to pay her investment back to her? Like, why not just talk it out rather than walking away and being apart from each other for a month?
And dying her hair red after it all, classic post break-up move!
I'm glad that her Mam and Dad got back together, even though there was absolutely no back story to how and why they managed to sort things out - and to be honest her Mam seemed like a bit of a nightmare! And I'm really glad that her Dad got better.
But I think, for me, there was a lack of chemistry between the main characters, the story moved along very quickly without any sort of tension or yearning from either of the main characters. A quick and easy listen to keep your reading list moving for sure.
February 25, 2026
⭐️⭐️⭐️ || I enjoyed listening to this and the topics it concluded. The main points were literally two people realizing they’ve slowly fell in love with each other over the years, while both overcoming grief. I recommend it if that’s something you’re interested in!
February 10, 2026
I received an Advanced Listener Copy from NetGalley, and this review is voluntary.
This story had all the right ingredients, but for me, the final dish didn’t fully come together. I loved the setup — grief, growth, and a best friend’s brother who’s been quietly in love with you for years? That’s a recipe I will always taste‑test. But somewhere between the emotional beats and the kitchen scenes, I found myself wanting more clarity and more connective tissue.
The Nigerian fusion element was charming, but I didn’t always understand how it fit into the characters’ journeys. It felt like a cute garnish rather than a fully developed flavor. And the pacing? Let’s just say some moments simmered beautifully, while others jumped from “we’re sautéing onions” to “the whole pot is boiling over” with no warning. In audio, those jumps were even harder to follow, and I caught myself rewinding trying to figure out how we got from point A to point… Zik.
Megan’s emotional evasiveness also tested my patience. I get being guarded — I am guarded — but sis was dodging feelings like she was training for the emotional Olympics. I needed a little more depth, a little more confrontation, a little more “let’s actually talk about this.”
Overall, it’s a heartfelt story with a meaningful premise, but I needed more detail and smoother transitions to stay fully immersed. Still, if you enjoy quiet, emotional slow‑burns with a dash of spice and a side of culinary charm, this might hit the spot for you.
This story had all the right ingredients, but for me, the final dish didn’t fully come together. I loved the setup — grief, growth, and a best friend’s brother who’s been quietly in love with you for years? That’s a recipe I will always taste‑test. But somewhere between the emotional beats and the kitchen scenes, I found myself wanting more clarity and more connective tissue.
The Nigerian fusion element was charming, but I didn’t always understand how it fit into the characters’ journeys. It felt like a cute garnish rather than a fully developed flavor. And the pacing? Let’s just say some moments simmered beautifully, while others jumped from “we’re sautéing onions” to “the whole pot is boiling over” with no warning. In audio, those jumps were even harder to follow, and I caught myself rewinding trying to figure out how we got from point A to point… Zik.
Megan’s emotional evasiveness also tested my patience. I get being guarded — I am guarded — but sis was dodging feelings like she was training for the emotional Olympics. I needed a little more depth, a little more confrontation, a little more “let’s actually talk about this.”
Overall, it’s a heartfelt story with a meaningful premise, but I needed more detail and smoother transitions to stay fully immersed. Still, if you enjoy quiet, emotional slow‑burns with a dash of spice and a side of culinary charm, this might hit the spot for you.
February 23, 2026
It was the title that grabbed me on this one; I was expecting something different. More banter, more back and forth, but it was a childhood friendship that turned romantic, a third-act breakup to fall back together. It was sweet and had some really cute moments, but there was nothing that was drawing me back to the story. I wanted yearning, playful banter, and desire, and I didn't get any of it.
I did this as an immersive read, both the audio and the ebook at the same time. The audio book was really well done, with the dual narrators and good pacing, but I still found I was lacking connection with the characters. At times I felt like we were repeating scenes to be able to get both points of view, and it made the story feel a little awkward. The break up was pointless and could have been a conversation, it really felt like the author just needed to include it for the trope. The story moved fast, from suddenly dating to quickly in love. And the spice scenes... written by a man for sure. They lacked all the luster that I have come to appreciate from female author.
I did appreciate the Nigerian fusion and felt it could have been integrated into the story a lot better and been something more meaningful for both the characters and the story.
Overall, this is a quick and easy read or listen for anyone that wants something low stakes and enjoyable, but it isn't something I found memorable.
Thank you to NetGalley for the copy of the audiobook and eBook.
I did this as an immersive read, both the audio and the ebook at the same time. The audio book was really well done, with the dual narrators and good pacing, but I still found I was lacking connection with the characters. At times I felt like we were repeating scenes to be able to get both points of view, and it made the story feel a little awkward. The break up was pointless and could have been a conversation, it really felt like the author just needed to include it for the trope. The story moved fast, from suddenly dating to quickly in love. And the spice scenes... written by a man for sure. They lacked all the luster that I have come to appreciate from female author.
I did appreciate the Nigerian fusion and felt it could have been integrated into the story a lot better and been something more meaningful for both the characters and the story.
Overall, this is a quick and easy read or listen for anyone that wants something low stakes and enjoyable, but it isn't something I found memorable.
Thank you to NetGalley for the copy of the audiobook and eBook.
February 9, 2026
Review of *Not On the Menu*
by Eddy Twice
Narrated by Maeve Brady, Ed Fairbanks, Millie Hearts
2.5⭐️ (rounded up)
Unfortunately, this one didn’t work for me. Ed Fairbanks was not a great fit for the male lead—his narration style missed the mark and was noticeably overshadowed by the female performances.
The story itself was difficult to follow and lacked cohesion. Several elements felt underdeveloped, as if there was a checklist of tropes to include rather than a fully formed storyline to allow everything to flow naturally. The romance, in particular, was hard to invest in because too many pieces were missing.
There’s an age gap between the leads, but it’s never clearly defined. It’s also a best friend’s brother romance, though the friend has passed away. We’re told there’s a long shared history, yet there’s very little backstory to build the emotional layers needed to understand his love for her—or her investment in him. There’s even mention of her helping fund his restaurant, but when she discovers he knew it was her, she suddenly ghosts him, which felt confusing and hard to relate to.
Overall, the lack of emotional depth made it difficult for me to connect with the characters or the romance. This may work better for readers who prefer lighter stories without a strong focus on character development.
Thanks to NetGalley and Victory Editing for the ALC.
by Eddy Twice
Narrated by Maeve Brady, Ed Fairbanks, Millie Hearts
2.5⭐️ (rounded up)
Unfortunately, this one didn’t work for me. Ed Fairbanks was not a great fit for the male lead—his narration style missed the mark and was noticeably overshadowed by the female performances.
The story itself was difficult to follow and lacked cohesion. Several elements felt underdeveloped, as if there was a checklist of tropes to include rather than a fully formed storyline to allow everything to flow naturally. The romance, in particular, was hard to invest in because too many pieces were missing.
There’s an age gap between the leads, but it’s never clearly defined. It’s also a best friend’s brother romance, though the friend has passed away. We’re told there’s a long shared history, yet there’s very little backstory to build the emotional layers needed to understand his love for her—or her investment in him. There’s even mention of her helping fund his restaurant, but when she discovers he knew it was her, she suddenly ghosts him, which felt confusing and hard to relate to.
Overall, the lack of emotional depth made it difficult for me to connect with the characters or the romance. This may work better for readers who prefer lighter stories without a strong focus on character development.
Thanks to NetGalley and Victory Editing for the ALC.
March 4, 2026
Thank you for the ARC of Not on the Menu. I always appreciate the opportunity to read and review an advance copy.
Unfortunately, this one just didn’t quite work for me. I found myself confused by several parts of the story and felt like there were too many plot holes that were never fully addressed. One of the biggest things that stood out was the lack of discussion about his sister—who is also Meghan’s best friend. Given how central that relationship should be to the situation between them, it felt strange that it was barely explored.
I was also left wondering about several details that never seemed to be clarified. What exactly was the age gap between them? What was Meghan doing before she suddenly decided to become a part-time photographer? And if she was clearly curious about his past relationships, why didn’t she ever actually ask him about them? Moments like these made the story feel incomplete.
The highlight of the audiobook for me was the dual narration, which is something I usually love in a romance. However, even the narration felt a bit inconsistent at times, which unfortunately made it harder to stay immersed in the story.
I appreciate the opportunity to listen to the ARC, but this book ultimately didn’t make much sense to me and left me with more questions than answers.
Unfortunately, this one just didn’t quite work for me. I found myself confused by several parts of the story and felt like there were too many plot holes that were never fully addressed. One of the biggest things that stood out was the lack of discussion about his sister—who is also Meghan’s best friend. Given how central that relationship should be to the situation between them, it felt strange that it was barely explored.
I was also left wondering about several details that never seemed to be clarified. What exactly was the age gap between them? What was Meghan doing before she suddenly decided to become a part-time photographer? And if she was clearly curious about his past relationships, why didn’t she ever actually ask him about them? Moments like these made the story feel incomplete.
The highlight of the audiobook for me was the dual narration, which is something I usually love in a romance. However, even the narration felt a bit inconsistent at times, which unfortunately made it harder to stay immersed in the story.
I appreciate the opportunity to listen to the ARC, but this book ultimately didn’t make much sense to me and left me with more questions than answers.
February 4, 2026
Thank you NetGalley for this ARC audiobook
I want to start off by saying some things I really enjoyed about this book
I really enjoyed both the main characters, sometimes when it comes to contemporary romance the main characters can be lacking or somewhat annoying but I didn’t feel that with this book.
I enjoyed the plot of the book and the overall connection with the characters.
I also really enjoyed that the author included recipes for the food featured in the book at the end.
I also loved both the narrators they both did such an amazing job with their characters.
Now there’s some things in this book that I want to point out that may deter some people from
There is a third act breakup and in my opinion I didn’t really like the reason for the breakup I thought it was a bit silly
The characters do I feel need to work on their communication as well, it wasn’t as major as some books but definitely noticeable.
Overall I want to say I did love this book it was a nice short read to help keep me from falling into a reading slump and I appreciated it. The author writes extremely well and discusses matters such as death and grief with grace. This book discusses serious issues even with relationships and for that I appreciate it.
I want to start off by saying some things I really enjoyed about this book
I really enjoyed both the main characters, sometimes when it comes to contemporary romance the main characters can be lacking or somewhat annoying but I didn’t feel that with this book.
I enjoyed the plot of the book and the overall connection with the characters.
I also really enjoyed that the author included recipes for the food featured in the book at the end.
I also loved both the narrators they both did such an amazing job with their characters.
Now there’s some things in this book that I want to point out that may deter some people from
There is a third act breakup and in my opinion I didn’t really like the reason for the breakup I thought it was a bit silly
The characters do I feel need to work on their communication as well, it wasn’t as major as some books but definitely noticeable.
Overall I want to say I did love this book it was a nice short read to help keep me from falling into a reading slump and I appreciated it. The author writes extremely well and discusses matters such as death and grief with grace. This book discusses serious issues even with relationships and for that I appreciate it.
March 5, 2026
🌶️🌶️.5
⭐️⭐️.5 - disjointed, confusing, yet predictable and cringy. Pacing was off and story was all over the place. Scenes repeated and the third-act breakup was the most pitiful excuse for a breakup. It was just flat and beyond boring for me.
- They texted “I love you” 2 days into dating for crying out loud.
- Mom is cold, but has a change of heart. Why? No one really knows.
- They brush hands and FMC’s all like “am I in love?”
- FMC “how dare you care about me enough to set aside money for me! I can’t trust you anymore since you didn’t tell me now that we’ve been together for a whole 48 hours! So I’m going to cold shoulder you for a month and dye my hair even though I realize after only a week that I’m the problem.”
Recording icks for the audiobook were a huge turn off for me as well. Mouth/background noises from the female narrator and I just didn’t vibe with the male narrator for this lead. His voice did nothing for my ovaries.
Tropes/TW:
Privileged photographer FMC x ex military chef MMC
BFF’s younger brother
Reverse age gap
He fell first
Childhood friends to lovers
Death/grief/illness
Thank you Eddy Twice and Netgalley for the opportunity to review this ARC copy.
*I received an advance review copy for free and I am leaving this review voluntarily.*
⭐️⭐️.5 - disjointed, confusing, yet predictable and cringy. Pacing was off and story was all over the place. Scenes repeated and the third-act breakup was the most pitiful excuse for a breakup. It was just flat and beyond boring for me.
- They texted “I love you” 2 days into dating for crying out loud.
- Mom is cold, but has a change of heart. Why? No one really knows.
- They brush hands and FMC’s all like “am I in love?”
- FMC “how dare you care about me enough to set aside money for me! I can’t trust you anymore since you didn’t tell me now that we’ve been together for a whole 48 hours! So I’m going to cold shoulder you for a month and dye my hair even though I realize after only a week that I’m the problem.”
Recording icks for the audiobook were a huge turn off for me as well. Mouth/background noises from the female narrator and I just didn’t vibe with the male narrator for this lead. His voice did nothing for my ovaries.
Tropes/TW:
Privileged photographer FMC x ex military chef MMC
BFF’s younger brother
Reverse age gap
He fell first
Childhood friends to lovers
Death/grief/illness
Thank you Eddy Twice and Netgalley for the opportunity to review this ARC copy.
*I received an advance review copy for free and I am leaving this review voluntarily.*
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
February 11, 2026
I was so kindly sent the ALC for this from NetGalley however it just didn’t get me the way I wanted it to. I really wanted to love this story and I maybe would have if I had physically read it however the narration was off for me and at times was really distracting from the story. The story itself was nice and had a few parts I enjoyed however those were the points I wanted more detail and depth than was provided and at other points it fell a bit flat. I’m a big audiobook girlie but I just didn’t feel like for me personally, the voices matched the characters (mainly Zik) and some of the voices/accents at bits were really odd and distracting. I think if this isn’t something that bothers you then you’d definitely enjoy the story more than I did, I just couldn’t see past it unfortunately! The chapter breaks at times also felt like they were in the middle of a story so felt a bit disjointed when the story broke then restarted again right away, I feel the chapters could have been longer/merged to avoid this.
As a story it has real potential but for me the narration was just too distracting unfortunately.
As a story it has real potential but for me the narration was just too distracting unfortunately.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
February 27, 2026
🎧 Audio book review
Thank you to @victoryediting and @netgally for this ALC in exchange for a honest review!
Not on the menu by Eddy Twice
Narrated by Maeve Brady, Ed. Fairbanks, and Millie Hearts
Pub date- Out Now!!
3.5 ⭐️
This was a quick, fun read that I really enjoyed for what it was. The characters were engaging, and I especially loved that the MMC was a chef, it added such a unique and entertaining element to the story. One of my favorite touches was that the audiobook included recipes inspired by the book at the end, which I thought was really cool. I enjoyed the female narrators a lot, though the male narrator wasn’t my personal favorite. Overall, if you’re looking for something light, easy, and enjoyable, this is definitely worth picking up
📸 Friends to lovers
🧑🍳 Best friends brother
📸 Journey of loss
🧑🍳Layers of healing
📸Photographer FMC
🧑🍳 Chef MMC
Romance with Zik was definitely not on the menu. Perfectly plated dishes? Yes. Butterflies, lingering looks, and replaying moments on a loop? Absolutely not. And especially not romance with my friend’s brother, or a younger guy. So why did my stomach suddenly feel off? It had to be a stomach bug… right?
February 6, 2026
Thank you to Victory Editing NetGalley Co-op for this ALC!
This was a sweet story overall - the narration was not the best for me personally; I found the pacing of it to be a bit disjointed at times with how fast/slow the narrators would speak and sometimes there would be too long a pause between that I would question if I'd accidentally turned the audio off somehow.
Aside from that, I do think this was a good story - it felt quite average to me, in the sense that nothing about the storyline really stood out or gripped me. The third act conflict/breakup felt a bit unnecessary to me, and I would've liked to see a bit more discussion and resolution with Megan and her parents - it felt like that all got sorted out very easily but also like we didn't see any of it happen.
Megan and Zik had good chemistry and I was surprised by the fact that Zik's sister and Megan's best friend had passed away - it brought a bit more of an interesting element to the traditional 'best friends brother' trope.
This was a sweet story overall - the narration was not the best for me personally; I found the pacing of it to be a bit disjointed at times with how fast/slow the narrators would speak and sometimes there would be too long a pause between that I would question if I'd accidentally turned the audio off somehow.
Aside from that, I do think this was a good story - it felt quite average to me, in the sense that nothing about the storyline really stood out or gripped me. The third act conflict/breakup felt a bit unnecessary to me, and I would've liked to see a bit more discussion and resolution with Megan and her parents - it felt like that all got sorted out very easily but also like we didn't see any of it happen.
Megan and Zik had good chemistry and I was surprised by the fact that Zik's sister and Megan's best friend had passed away - it brought a bit more of an interesting element to the traditional 'best friends brother' trope.
February 8, 2026
Thank you Net Galley and Victory editing for an audio ARC of this title!
This was a quick and easy listen, and makes a nice palate cleanser if you feel like you’ve been reading books that are heavy, dark, or intense. The story features a FMC who returns home after the death of her best friend, in order to help said friend’s brother with photography for his up and coming restaurant. She realizes that while love with her best friend’s little brother was “not on the menu”, she’s loved Zeke for longer than she has realized.
This book had a great base of ideas: finding love with someone who has felt off limits because of other relationships, realizing that person has always felt like home, a complicated parent dynamic adding external pressure to that relationship…lots to work with! For me, this book failed to get the 5th star because all of these ideas needed to be teased out just a little more in order to stick with me and leave a lasting impression. Overall I enjoyed this book, but if you ask me a month from now I likely will not remember the plot.
This was a quick and easy listen, and makes a nice palate cleanser if you feel like you’ve been reading books that are heavy, dark, or intense. The story features a FMC who returns home after the death of her best friend, in order to help said friend’s brother with photography for his up and coming restaurant. She realizes that while love with her best friend’s little brother was “not on the menu”, she’s loved Zeke for longer than she has realized.
This book had a great base of ideas: finding love with someone who has felt off limits because of other relationships, realizing that person has always felt like home, a complicated parent dynamic adding external pressure to that relationship…lots to work with! For me, this book failed to get the 5th star because all of these ideas needed to be teased out just a little more in order to stick with me and leave a lasting impression. Overall I enjoyed this book, but if you ask me a month from now I likely will not remember the plot.
February 13, 2026
This is definitely a fast paced cute read! I did wish the storyline flowed better and it was clearer when we were in present vs past tense, but the dual POV was nice.
Zik has been in love with his sister's best friend for years. However, both him and Megan are grieving Zik's sister's death. They have been in each other's lives since childhood, and supported each other but their bond has never crossed that line. I appreciate how open Zik was to Megan about his feelings, but in a blink they were saying I Love You and the very next chapter is the third act break up.
I do appreciate the growth Megan had, but poor Zik was so supportive of her and her family the entire time.
Thank you to NetGalley, the author, and publishers for this audio review. I am an avid audiobook listener, and this is one occasion where I feel the narration took away from the book.
Overall, this was an enjoyable quick read.
Zik has been in love with his sister's best friend for years. However, both him and Megan are grieving Zik's sister's death. They have been in each other's lives since childhood, and supported each other but their bond has never crossed that line. I appreciate how open Zik was to Megan about his feelings, but in a blink they were saying I Love You and the very next chapter is the third act break up.
I do appreciate the growth Megan had, but poor Zik was so supportive of her and her family the entire time.
Thank you to NetGalley, the author, and publishers for this audio review. I am an avid audiobook listener, and this is one occasion where I feel the narration took away from the book.
Overall, this was an enjoyable quick read.
March 3, 2026
⭐⭐⭐⭐☆ — Loved the Story, Not So Much the Audio
Not on the Menu by Eddy Twice was such a fun ride. The characters are charming, the banter is great, and the whole vibe just pulls you in. It’s one of those stories where you keep thinking “okay, one more chapter” and suddenly it’s 2 a.m. Eddy Twice really knows how to mix heart, humor, and heat in a way that feels effortless.
The only downside for me was the audio. The narration wasn’t terrible, but it didn’t quite match the energy of the book. Some parts felt a bit uneven, and a few character voices didn’t land the way the scenes seemed to call for. The production quality also had a couple of distracting moments that pulled me out of the story.
The book itself? Fantastic. Totally worth reading. But if you’re picky about audio quality, you might enjoy this one more in ebook or print. With a stronger narration, this would’ve easily been a five‑star listen.
Not on the Menu by Eddy Twice was such a fun ride. The characters are charming, the banter is great, and the whole vibe just pulls you in. It’s one of those stories where you keep thinking “okay, one more chapter” and suddenly it’s 2 a.m. Eddy Twice really knows how to mix heart, humor, and heat in a way that feels effortless.
The only downside for me was the audio. The narration wasn’t terrible, but it didn’t quite match the energy of the book. Some parts felt a bit uneven, and a few character voices didn’t land the way the scenes seemed to call for. The production quality also had a couple of distracting moments that pulled me out of the story.
The book itself? Fantastic. Totally worth reading. But if you’re picky about audio quality, you might enjoy this one more in ebook or print. With a stronger narration, this would’ve easily been a five‑star listen.
February 13, 2026
⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️
Finished: 02/13
⸻
Meg & Zik = swoon worthy. Connected through Ada — Zik’s sister and Megan’s best friend — these two have always found a quiet sense of comfort in each other, and that foundation made their romance feel natural and tender.
⸻
There’s definitely an emotional punch here as they navigate grief, illness, complicated family dynamics, and all the messy realities that come with growing up and moving forward. It added depth to what could have been just a sweet romance.
⸻
I experienced this one through audio, and while it was decent, I don’t think it fully captured the heart of the story for me. I have a feeling this might shine even brighter in physical format, where the emotional beats could land a little more intimately.
Thank you #NetGalley for the advanced audio copy in exchange for an honest review.
#readingChallenge #readmorebooks #romance #reading2026
Finished: 02/13
⸻
Meg & Zik = swoon worthy. Connected through Ada — Zik’s sister and Megan’s best friend — these two have always found a quiet sense of comfort in each other, and that foundation made their romance feel natural and tender.
⸻
There’s definitely an emotional punch here as they navigate grief, illness, complicated family dynamics, and all the messy realities that come with growing up and moving forward. It added depth to what could have been just a sweet romance.
⸻
I experienced this one through audio, and while it was decent, I don’t think it fully captured the heart of the story for me. I have a feeling this might shine even brighter in physical format, where the emotional beats could land a little more intimately.
Thank you #NetGalley for the advanced audio copy in exchange for an honest review.
#readingChallenge #readmorebooks #romance #reading2026
February 28, 2026
I really wanted to enjoy Not on the Menu, but unfortunately it didn’t quite work for me. The premise had promise, the tension of falling for your friend’s younger brother could have delivered real emotional depth, but the story felt more surface level than I expected.
The romance lacked chemistry, and I never fully bought into the connection between the main characters. I kept waiting for the relationship to develop in a way that felt earned, but it stayed fairly predictable.
As for the audiobook performance, the narration was fine but didn’t add much dimension to the characters and some emotional moments fell a bit flat.
Overall, it wasn’t terrible, just underwhelming. If you enjoy light, low stakes romance with minimal angst, it might still work for you, but it didn’t leave a lasting impression on me.
Thank you NetGalley for the Audio arc of this book.
The romance lacked chemistry, and I never fully bought into the connection between the main characters. I kept waiting for the relationship to develop in a way that felt earned, but it stayed fairly predictable.
As for the audiobook performance, the narration was fine but didn’t add much dimension to the characters and some emotional moments fell a bit flat.
Overall, it wasn’t terrible, just underwhelming. If you enjoy light, low stakes romance with minimal angst, it might still work for you, but it didn’t leave a lasting impression on me.
Thank you NetGalley for the Audio arc of this book.
March 3, 2026
Thank you to NetGalley for the audiobook to review.
This book felt more like an unfinished draft than I expected it to. I am a little confused by the timing of things. Did the sister just die? Is that why they���re just now seeing each other in this new light? Because I feel like there definitely should’ve been more grief then. Like the scenes where they do grieve are very quick and over. As someone who has lost a best friend suddenly in a tragic accident, I was expecting there to be a lot more conversation about the sister.
I feel like it was very jarring in the first chapters when the chapters would end in the middle of a scene or a conversation.
I do think the author did a good job of making the MFC feel like a regular person and not just a prize. Dual POV was nice. The interactions between the love interests started to feel more natural around Chapter 18.
This book felt more like an unfinished draft than I expected it to. I am a little confused by the timing of things. Did the sister just die? Is that why they���re just now seeing each other in this new light? Because I feel like there definitely should’ve been more grief then. Like the scenes where they do grieve are very quick and over. As someone who has lost a best friend suddenly in a tragic accident, I was expecting there to be a lot more conversation about the sister.
I feel like it was very jarring in the first chapters when the chapters would end in the middle of a scene or a conversation.
I do think the author did a good job of making the MFC feel like a regular person and not just a prize. Dual POV was nice. The interactions between the love interests started to feel more natural around Chapter 18.
February 6, 2026
I received an arc audiobook from NetGalley in exchange for my honest review.
There are a few glitches in the audio where it repeats words and I noticed a few places where it gets kind of muffled. But other than that I really enjoyed listening to this audiobook.
The story was very cute and hallmarky. I loved how realistic the love story was. His sister passes away and he’s been in love with her best friend since he was a little boy. He hires her to shoot the photos for his new cook book and finally makes his move. But she has issues with it because she feels like falling in love with her best friend’s little brother is a betrayal especially when she can’t ask her if it’s alright.
Was a very cute and emotional story I couldn’t get enough of
There are a few glitches in the audio where it repeats words and I noticed a few places where it gets kind of muffled. But other than that I really enjoyed listening to this audiobook.
The story was very cute and hallmarky. I loved how realistic the love story was. His sister passes away and he’s been in love with her best friend since he was a little boy. He hires her to shoot the photos for his new cook book and finally makes his move. But she has issues with it because she feels like falling in love with her best friend’s little brother is a betrayal especially when she can’t ask her if it’s alright.
Was a very cute and emotional story I couldn’t get enough of
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
February 8, 2026
I'm sorry but this one was not for me. Both the book itself and the audiobook performance and production.
I truly couldn’t care less for the characters.
I was bored out of my mind. It was supposed to be a quick, one sitting audiobook, but it felt very long for the romance plot to unravel and it was rather a disappointment.
Scenes/plots that were not relevant to the story were over developed, while the ones that should be the main focus were underdeveloped. A lot of things didn’t make much sense and I didn’t feel the connection between main characters at all.
I usually save 2 star rating for the books that had more serious issues, so by my usual standards I should give this book 3 stars and just state that it was not for me, but because I was just too bored, I'm going with 2.
I truly couldn’t care less for the characters.
I was bored out of my mind. It was supposed to be a quick, one sitting audiobook, but it felt very long for the romance plot to unravel and it was rather a disappointment.
Scenes/plots that were not relevant to the story were over developed, while the ones that should be the main focus were underdeveloped. A lot of things didn’t make much sense and I didn’t feel the connection between main characters at all.
I usually save 2 star rating for the books that had more serious issues, so by my usual standards I should give this book 3 stars and just state that it was not for me, but because I was just too bored, I'm going with 2.
February 13, 2026
So I did the audiobook of this and the recording was a little wonky. It almost sounded the narrators were too close to the mics, muffled and mouth noises. The male narrator was very monotone. Once I noticed it I couldn’t un-hear it.
Megan is a photographer and her best friend’s brother Zik owns a restaurant.
——> side note: the restaurant is large enough to have different “wings” of the dining room and only ten employees?
This had all the right ingredients but unfortunately the final dish wasn’t for me. I wanted more yearning and tension. Overall I didn’t like the characters.
*I got this as a free ALC through NetGalley for an honest review thank you to everyone who made this happen*
Megan is a photographer and her best friend’s brother Zik owns a restaurant.
——> side note: the restaurant is large enough to have different “wings” of the dining room and only ten employees?
This had all the right ingredients but unfortunately the final dish wasn’t for me. I wanted more yearning and tension. Overall I didn’t like the characters.
*I got this as a free ALC through NetGalley for an honest review thank you to everyone who made this happen*
February 16, 2026
I had a hard time with this one. It felt like I jumped into a story that was halfway done already — like I didn’t get the chance to connect and get to know the characters before being knee deep into plot.
Additionally, the pacing felt weird sometimes. Like we’d double back to moments that just happened when the POV would change, lots of details for interactions that felt less significant, and breezing over moments that could have added a lot of character depth.
I really loved Maeve Brady and her performance was great. Perfect pacing and tone. Ed Fairbanks did pretty well too.
There were moments the audio paused weirdly and sometimes the same line was repeated multiple times. Not sure if this is a production issue or how it was written etc.
Thank you NetGalley for the audARC!
Additionally, the pacing felt weird sometimes. Like we’d double back to moments that just happened when the POV would change, lots of details for interactions that felt less significant, and breezing over moments that could have added a lot of character depth.
I really loved Maeve Brady and her performance was great. Perfect pacing and tone. Ed Fairbanks did pretty well too.
There were moments the audio paused weirdly and sometimes the same line was repeated multiple times. Not sure if this is a production issue or how it was written etc.
Thank you NetGalley for the audARC!
February 7, 2026
This book was a bit of a rough start for me but it came around and I ended up liking the story in the end. The story was centered around finding purpose and love through the grieving process. Megan is handed a terrible hand in life as far as losing people and dealing with illness in loved ones. Zik is in the same situation and through their separate but mutual grief they realize that they love each other.
The narrators were fine overall but their pacing was so different it was hard to choose a speed for the audiobook. The male narrator spoke extremely slow and the female narrator had a good pace. This was the main reason I almost dnf’d the book but I am glad I finished it.
The narrators were fine overall but their pacing was so different it was hard to choose a speed for the audiobook. The male narrator spoke extremely slow and the female narrator had a good pace. This was the main reason I almost dnf’d the book but I am glad I finished it.
February 14, 2026
For me, this landed around 1.5 stars. There were sweet moments, especially around grief and love, and I did enjoy Megan’s narration. Her voice added warmth and honestly kept me listening when the story started to lose me.
I struggled a bit with the flow of the storyline, and I wasn’t always sure how the Nigerian elements and frequent references to Africa connected to the main plot. They felt separate from the emotional core rather than enhancing it.
I could feel what the story was aiming for, but it didn’t fully come together for me. The narration helped more than the writing overall.
Thank you NetGalley for this ARC audiobook.
#NotOntheMenu #NetGalley
I struggled a bit with the flow of the storyline, and I wasn’t always sure how the Nigerian elements and frequent references to Africa connected to the main plot. They felt separate from the emotional core rather than enhancing it.
I could feel what the story was aiming for, but it didn’t fully come together for me. The narration helped more than the writing overall.
Thank you NetGalley for this ARC audiobook.
#NotOntheMenu #NetGalley
February 23, 2026
I was able to get the ARC from @netgalley in audiobook form.
This is a cute friends to lovers story. The story largely revolves around the male lead which is a chef, so you get a lot of cooking and restaurant scenes, if that is something you are interested in and you also get some awesome Nigerian recipes at the end on the book, so that was great.
The main problem is how to go from friends to lovers, especially since they are childhood friends and the main female character is best friends with his sister.
It was a cute story, definitely a good read if you want something simpler after a heavy read.
This is a cute friends to lovers story. The story largely revolves around the male lead which is a chef, so you get a lot of cooking and restaurant scenes, if that is something you are interested in and you also get some awesome Nigerian recipes at the end on the book, so that was great.
The main problem is how to go from friends to lovers, especially since they are childhood friends and the main female character is best friends with his sister.
It was a cute story, definitely a good read if you want something simpler after a heavy read.
February 23, 2026
The story had a sweet premise and was a quick listen, but it ultimately didn’t work for me. The pacing felt uneven—some sections dragged and became repetitive, while other parts could have benefited from a deeper backstory. I struggled to connect with the characters, as they didn’t feel fully believable, and some of the dialogue came across as unnatural. The overall plot lacked clear direction, and the third-act breakup felt silly and unnecessary.
I thought the audio quality was not great and the narrators did not really match the characters in my opinion.
Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for the ALC.
I thought the audio quality was not great and the narrators did not really match the characters in my opinion.
Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for the ALC.
February 8, 2026
Not On the Menu is a fun, engaging listen with a strong cast of characters and plenty of heart. The story blends romance and emotion well, with moments that are light and entertaining alongside more thoughtful beats.
The audiobook narration by Maeve Brady, Ed Fairbanks, and Millie Hearts worked really well as a trio and helped bring the characters to life. Each voice felt distinct, which made it easy to stay immersed and added energy to the story.
An enjoyable, well-paced audiobook that kept me listening and left me feeling satisfied. A solid pick if you’re looking for something entertaining with both warmth and personality.
The audiobook narration by Maeve Brady, Ed Fairbanks, and Millie Hearts worked really well as a trio and helped bring the characters to life. Each voice felt distinct, which made it easy to stay immersed and added energy to the story.
An enjoyable, well-paced audiobook that kept me listening and left me feeling satisfied. A solid pick if you’re looking for something entertaining with both warmth and personality.
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